Did 10,000 people really die in Tanzania’s election protests? Government pushes back

Prime Minister Dr Mwigulu Nchemba said the widely circulated numbers were being used by some individuals for political and financial gain, accusing them of trading on the suffering of Tanzanians. Speaking during a working visit to Mbeya Region on December 18, he questioned how such a large number of deaths could have occurred without clear evidence.

“You can hide bodies, but you cannot hide funerals,” Dr Nchemba said, adding that it would be impossible for thousands of people to die in Dar es Salaam within a few days without leaving visible traces.

The Prime Minister also criticised what he described as attempts to sensationalise the unrest, saying some images shared online were taken from conflict zones outside Tanzania and falsely presented as evidence of events inside the country. He warned that spreading unverified information about loss of life was dangerous and could fuel further tension.

According to Dr Nchemba, the government has established a presidential committee to investigate what happened during and after the protests. He said families who are still searching for missing relatives will have their cases reviewed as part of that process.

Despite the government’s rejection of the 10,000-death claim, authorities have not yet released an official death toll. A full account of casualties and damage is expected once the special investigation commission completes its work.

The protests erupted after the October 29 elections and were followed by a heavy security response. While the government maintains that order was restored lawfully, opposition groups and rights activists continue to raise concerns about the use of force and the lack of transparent information on casualties.